First Battle of Givet

The First Battle of Givet occurred in September 1944 when the French Army attacked the town of Givet on the Belgian border and faced heavy German resistance. The French 12th Motorized Divsion, 1st Motorized Assault Brigade (an armored unit), 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade, and 106th Infantry Regiment attacked across the Meuse River, and they found a town defended by one infantry and one armored kampfgruppe, both belonging to the German 17th Infantry Division. The Germans and French fought on the right bank of the river early in the battle, and the Germans managed to recapture the Beauraing Depot after it had fallen into French hands. However, the Germans were unsuccessful in counterattacking and taking the Philipville and Vireaux depots on the left bank of the river, resulting in a draw. A total of 1,390 people were killed at Givet in one day.